Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-22
ICopwtJht. 1857, By TIE A. " Kellogg Newspaper
Company

lCopWfJht. 1887, By TIE A. " Kellogg Newspaper
Company.l
PART Iv.-CHAPTER L-CoSTIsuEp.
In the presence of this grief. neither
of them had bestowed any further
thought upon Louis Hunter, his recent
mission from Captain Willis, or his
startling announcement of what he
had seen on that dreadful night in the
old house at Provincetown. They had
not seen him since the morning that
followed that night; they hoped never
again to see him or hear of him.
: Poor Helen Willis lived and still
shadowing grief. Not a word had
reached her directly from Henry Craw-
ford since the letter that told her he
had Joined Lopez. The dreary list of
Crittenden's men, slaughtered by
Spanish volleys after their surrender.
was published in the papers; her
lovers name was not in it. Other
lists followed, of captive ffibusters de-
ported to Spain in irons, for whom the
American Government was making in
tercession, but he was not named
among them. She was heavy-hearted,
and yet hopeful His cruel silence
seemed like the silence of the grave.
yet she had no positive intelligence of
either his death or his captivity, and
hope with her was beacon that never
expired.
The days went on till October was
well-nigh spent. On one of those gold
en- afternoons Helen sat in her room
alone. She had been reading for the
thousandth time that last letter of her
beloved; she had kissed it again, and
cried over it. The strong, passionate
yearning of her heart went out to him
over seas and lands; she could not
would not, think him dead.
Her aunt raped at her door, and
entered.
Helen" she said, there's poor
vagabond-looking fellow down below
in the parlor who insists on seeing
you. He looks as if he wanted charity:
but couldn't get rid of him by offer
ing him half dollar. He was SO ear
nest about it that / finally let him in. -
81 suppose it's one of my Province
W" II iCt
ss1'll go down"
The stranger attempted to rise as
she entered the parlor. He walked
with two canes, but seemed so feeble
that they could not support him in his
attempt.
''Pray. don't rise," Helen said.
"What do you wish2''
II lave walked too far" the man
said. His voice was weak, his face
was wan and hollow; but there was Il
fire in his eye that spoke of the inva-
lids ambition to be away from the
sick-room. II am not long}out of the
hospital; the doctor says 1 should not
be out yet"
'What do YOU wish?" she asked
again, touched by his appearance and
manner.
81 was directed to Miss Helen
Willis" he said. ''You are the lady, l
suppose? Well, miss. I've been in
Cuba: I've seen rough times there with
the filibusters; there were not many of
us got away. Not knowing from one
day to another if we should ever see
home again. we used to give each
other messages to carry for us. There
was one fellow gave me some word for
you; and now it is curious l can't think
which one it was"
.sCrawford?" was her breathless
question.
40. yes; Henry Crawford; I remem-
Der now. An ordinary kind of fell
low sa,,.
..Sir, you must speak respectfully 6
him, if you talk to mel Where is hep
"Crawford-Cr awford-let me see, "
the man unused. THE fact is, miss. it
is not easy. to remember names among
several hundreds. hope he escaped.
as did. Haven't you heard from him
lately?"
sNo-not word. You have some
thing to tell me of him; why don't you
tell itp If he is dead say so. and end
my misery"
mo, miss; he's not dead"
s.Where is hep"
1.-The last saw of him he was walk
ing along the streets of Boston inquir-